OHIO, 1995

Elena Reyes kicked her legs in a silent annoyance, attempting to swing  all by herself. "You can do it Ellie!" her older sister exclaimed.

"No! Please push me!" Elena huffed her tiny legs dangling off the edge of the swing, she was suddenly startled by how high off the ground she was. "Lena! I'm stuck!"

"It's ok, I'll get Natty," Yelena stated hopping off the swing leaving Elena there all alone, but a soft whistle cut off her fear almost entirely.

"Nat!" the four year old reached out for the blue haired girl, and Natasha gently lifted her off the swing.

"How'd you even get up there El?" Natasha looked to Elena quizzically, and she shrugged.

Yelena and Natasha into their back bends, while Elena laid with her back on the dirt looking up at the clouds and sun.

"We're both upside down!" Yelena exclaimed, "And I bet you're gonna fall down first," Natasha noted with a smile.

"No you will." Yelena argued competitively, but moments later the blonde was struggling, and both Natasha and Elena began making silly faces, causing her to tip over.

Natasha stood up, Elena only steps behind her as the blue-haired girl took off in a run, "I tolfd you! I told you!"

Elena usually couldn't keep up with Natasha, so she scooped her up continuing to run from Yelena. That was until Yelena hit the ground, yelling out for Melina.

"Mommy!" she cried out, Natasha quickly moving towards her, still holding Elena in her arms.

Melina walked over softly crouching down beside the three of them.

Her girls.

"What happened?" Melina asked as Yelena shoved Natasha away moving into her arms, "She got a ouchie!" Elena exclaimed.

"She fell on her knee," Natasha explained, "Oh, you bump your knee?" Melina asked, and Yelena hummed in agreement.

Melina leaned down pressing a kiss on her knee, "Kiss it better, there we go." she softly comforted the child.

"It's ok Yelena, you're ok," Melina comforted softly, brushing away her tears.

"Mama! Did you see me on the swing! I almost had it this time!" Elena exclaimed, "I did see you, you did so good, Ellie!"

"Hop up Yelena, you're a brave girl. Your pain only makes you stronger."

Elena walked beside Melina and Yelena, in the direction of Natasha, "Right you?"

"Yeah," Natasha said swinging back and forth, "How do you do that!?" Elena exclaimed.

"Look," Yelena tugged on Melina's hand, "It's forest stars."

"Yeah, you know what?" Melina asked, "Those are actually part of the Lampyridae family. And the glow," she wrapped and arm around Natasha, "The glow that you see, that comes from a chemical reaction called...bioluminescence."

"Come on, time for dinner," Melina smiled, walking away, but Natasha still stood there watching the glowing bugs dance around the trees.

"Come on big girl! Dinner!"

"I want mac and cheese!" Yelena exclaimed, "Me too!" Elena cheered, "Oh, you want mac and cheese, well I want caviar, and champagne." Melina replied, "Grab the napkins."

"You thank this, thank you." Melina handed a dish off to Yelena. "Oh, would you grab the ranch dressing for dad?"

"Mama, can I have some apple juice, please?" Elena looked up at her mother pleadingly.

"You know green beans are my favorite vegetable!" Yelena quipped from beside the table.

"Yes, Nat will get you some" Melina turned towards her oldest daughter, "Right?"

Natasha nodded grabbing the ranch dressing and a juice box.

"Dad's home!" Melina called out, as Alexei entered the house walking into the kitchen.

"Hi dad," the blue haired girl smiled, "Hi, baby." He ruffled her hair a bit.

Ellie pulled out her chair climbing up onto her seat, as Melina dished out some food on to her plate.

Elena didn't notice the way things were off, the way her dad was acting strange.

"Everything ok?"

Without answering the question Alexei turned back to the table, "How was everyone's day?"

"Mommy taught us about lamp bugs," Yelena spoke, "Lamp bugs?"

"Yes! And why they glow! Bio- How do you say it Mama?"

"Bioluminescence," Melina smiled briefly, "I fell and hurt my knee, but it doesn't hurt anymore."

Melina and Alexei left the table quietly, Yelena still talking about her day.

"No..." Melina whispered, and Alexei nodded.

"How long do we have?" She leaned against the wall, "I don't know. Like, an hour, maybe."

"I don't wanna go." Melina confessed.

"Don't say that."

Alexei and Melina stepped back to the table moments later, "Girls..."

Alexei leaned forward, "Do you remember when I told you that one day we would have that big adventure?"

Natasha uneasily stopped moving her fork, and Ellie picked up on that unease copying her older sister.

"Well, today's the day!" He explained.

"Yay!" Yelena exclaimed, but Elena frowned, "I don't like adventure."

"It'll be fun, Ellie," Yelena shrugged.

"All right let's go." Alexei stated, and Yelena immediately started moving.

"I'm sorry." Melina whispered to Natasha.

"Mama? What's going to happen?" Elena asked quietly, "Everything's going to be fine, darling." Melina took Elena's hand leading her to the car.

"Where are we going?" Yelena asked once they were all piled into the car.

"Home." Melina answered mellowly.

"Mommy, you're silly. We just left home."

Sirens whirred around them as they drove through the streets. "I want my song."

Alexei slid the cassette in place, and the sound of American Pie filled the car. Yelena sang along to the song, and Elena silently taped her foot to the beat.

Soon the car pulled to a stop on a secluded dirt road.

"Come on girls, we have to hurry." Melina urged, rushing them out of the car.

Melina lifted Yelena into the plane first, then Elena. Natasha soon behind.

"Ok, seatbelts." Melina instructed climbing to the front. "Why isn't dad in the plane?" Natasha rushed out.

"He's coming. He's coming, baby. He's coming." Melina wasn't sure if she was trying to convince Natasha or if she was trying to convince herself.

"Mama! What's happening?" Elena cried out as the plane lurched forward, and gunfire echoed through the air.

"Mom?" Natasha spoke as Alexei jumped up on the wing of the plane.

Bullets pierced through the planes window, Natasha throwing her arm out in front of Yelena and Ellie.

Melina groaned in pain and Natasha shouted in fear, "Mom!"

"I need you up here." Melina breathed, leaning her head back, Natasha immediately moved forwards, "I need you to pull right."

"Mom, you've got blood on you," Natasha looked at her mother in worry.

"It's ok, baby."

Both Yelena and Ellie began crying, as the plane continued to speed forward. Melina continued to give Natasha instructions on how to fly the plane.

Ellie hung onto Yelena in fear, "Mama...Mama!"

CUBA, 1995

Alexei carried Melina out of the plane, Natasha helping Yelena and Elena out of it. They chased after their dad.

Elena held Melina's hand tightly, "Pain only makes you stronger remember." Yelena cried to her mother's chest.

Tears streamed down the faces of Melina's children. "Mama, you're...gonna be ok." Ellie spoke.

"Forgive me, Mama. I'm scared." Natasha spoke holding on to Melina.

"Never let them take your heart."

One of the guards shoved Natasha away, and picked Melina's stretcher up. Natasha wrapped protective arms around her baby sisters.

"Mommy?" Yelena asked, "Mom?" Natasha pleaded.

"MAMA!" Ellie shouted, "Daddy!" Yelena cried out running to Alexei, Ellie and Natasha a few steps behind her.

"Yelena! Ellie!" Natasha cried out as a solider wrapped his grimy hands around their arms.

A Flash of light seemed to freeze everything in the moment. However when it cleared Ellie was gone.